There is nothing new under the sun. 

–Ecclesiastes 1:9

Benjamin Franklin taught us that nothing is certain except death and taxes, but perhaps we should add one more item to the list: censorship. There have always been those who seek to limit what other people can do or see: books, clothing, movies, relationships, music, dancing, etc. It was the latter that the brothers Gershwin lampooned in 1922. In the midst of prohibition, temperance movements had to find new scapegoats, and dancing was a natural target. It was the gateway drug to all manner of deviant behavior. Once someone started dancing, they were locked into a one-way ticket to destruction…or so we were told. Looking back on the movement more than 100 years later, such a moral panic about something so innocuous seems entirely trivial.

And yet, what will historians 100 years from today think of our own moral panics?

For those courageously standing up to bullies of all kinds—including censors—know that we face nothing new. Artists have always dealt with this kind of thing, and frequently the restrictions lead to new avenues for creative expression. See also George Carlin, the Secret Chromatic Art of the Franco Flemish Renaissance, and Handel creating oratorio to keep theatres open during Lent.

For those bent on silencing your fellow citizens, may I invite you to sing and dance a bit? Perhaps you’re just grumpy.  —JDB

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This title is listed as a site-license. Purchase it once and you can make as many copies as needed for ensembles at your institution. This license is non-transferable, so you can’t share your copies with other ensembles, but pricing is always negotiable if you contact me. I just want to share in making great music together!